At the very least, they were active, attempting to reshape a team that finished last in the National League West for the second consecutive season. With the calendar closing on 2013, the Rockies, for better or worse, have their roster all but set for 2014.

"I think we have done some good things to make us deeper and more athletic," said Bill Geivett, the Rockies' senior vice president of major league operations. "I think we found out (last year) that we weren't deep enough and we weren't experienced enough. So we wanted to increase our talent level."

The club's biggest need, as always, was pitching. From the outset, the game plan was to find power arms that could perform well at Coors Field and on the road.

"We have made more of an investment in our pitching," Geivett said. "On the mound, I think we are more physical now and more impactful. We pitched pretty well last year, but at times I think we can be more dominating. Especially late in the game."

The Rockies signed right-handed reliever LaTroy Hawkins to be their closer for one year, giving him $2.5 million. They also signed former New York Yankees reliever Boone Logan to a three-year contract worth $16.5 million. There is risk involved here. Hawkins, despite an effective 2013 season with the New York Mets (2.

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93 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 70-plus innings), recently turned 41. The plan is to use Logan, along with fellow left-hander Rex Brothers, as a late-inning setup man. That should create matchup problems for opposing managers. But Logan was used by the Yankees primarily as a specialist against left-handed batters, so it remains to be seen if he has the stuff to put away right-handed hitters.

The Rockies' most profitable move could turn out to be the trade of struggling left-handed starter Drew Pomeranz and minor leaguer Chris Jensen to the Oakland A's for left-handed starter Brett Anderson. If he can stay healthy, Anderson might be the best pitcher in the rotation. But his health is a big if. Anderson had Tommy John surgery in July 2011, then bolstered the A's rotation late in the 2012 season. His 2.57 ERA in six starts helped the A's win the AL West title and he pitched six scoreless innings in Game 3 of a playoff series against the Detroit Tigers. But he missed four months in 2013 because of a sprained ankle and a stress fracture, both in his right foot.

"You have to remember that Anderson was the opening-day starter for the A's last year and he has really good stuff," Geivett said.

The move that sparked the most fury among Rockies fans was the trade that sent popular center fielder Dexter Fowler to the Houston Astros. The Rockies received unproven starting pitcher Jordan Lyles and utility outfielder Brandon Barnes from Houston and rid themselves of Fowler's $7.25 million salary. In essence, it was a salary dump to clear room to sign free-agent first baseman Justin Morneau to a two-year contract worth $12.5 million.

Don't be surprised to see Lyles, a former first-round draft pick, pitching in the minors next year. He's only 23 years old, and there's a feeling that he was rushed into the majors, as evidenced by his 14-29 record and 5.35 ERA over his first three seasons.

Geivett is counting on Morneau to replace Todd Helton's glove at first and hoping he can flash at least some of the power that made him the AL MVP with the Minnesota Twins in 2006. Morneau, however, has struggled in recent years since suffering a concussion and shown little power against left-handers.

The other notable offseason addition was outfielder Drew Stubbs, acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Indians for left-handed reliever Josh Outman. He'll be used in all three outfield spots as a top sub off the bench.

"He's got great speed, and he's a really good fielder," Geivett said. "And we think he gives us a right-handed bat with power."

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